Panasonic Creating 8K Ultra-High Definition Plasma TV

Panasonic is reportedly working with Japanese broadcaster NHK to create a 145in plasma screen with an 8K resolution. In pixel terms that’s an impressive 7,680 x 4,320 (widescreen of course), under the system that NHK calls Super Hi-Vision, also known as Ultra-High Definition TV. This will make it the biggest 8K-enabled screen of its type.

To date, 8K images are normally produced by specialised video projectors rather than direct-view televisions. Sharp has developed a prototype 8K-ready LCD TV but that measures a relatively modest 85in.

With 16 times the number of pixels of normal HD video, the clarity of 8K is said to be close to that of IMAX film.

According to The Verge, Panasonic and NHK have come up with a new drive technology to reduce the flicker of the plasma display, which at such a large size and high resolution could otherwise make the image look unstable.

The proposed plasma screen is slightly smaller than Panasonic’s current flagship 152in model, a likely favourite among Premier League footballers, but that has a resolution of “only” 4K.

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NHK has been developing Super Hi-Vision in its Science and Technical Research labs and is working closely with both Panasonic and the BBC. Tests of Super Hi-Vision are expected to be made during the London 2012 Olympics, with some UK venues using the technology for public screenings.

For the home, Super Hi-Vision broadcasts are not expected to be offered until 2022, and that’s only in Japan. So don’t expect to be able to buy one of these new plasmas at your local TV shop in the foreseeable future.